On Spatial Mechanisms of Social Equity: Exploring the Associations between Street Networks, Urban Compactness, and Social Equity
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The article explores the validity of four scenarios or mechanisms describing the relationships between topological spatial relations, urban compactness, and social equity. The research has a comparative character and continues and develops Burton's research assumptions. They are quantitative, and the analysis results were developed using space syntax techniques and correlational analysis. These are the main contributions and strengths of the article.
The paper's strengths are clarity of structure, accurate description of the methods used and their interpretation, and cartographic and graphic material. The methods used (i.e., space syntax techniques, correlational analysis) and tools (software: Statistica) are advanced.
The biggest weakness of the article is its ‘Discussion and Conclusions’ section. The Author does not refer to any results of other works based on space syntax for 'discussion'. It would also beworthwhile in the ‘Discussion and Conclusions’ section to add information about the applicability of the results (for urban policy, among other things) and the inadequacies and limitations of the methods used in the article.
Minor comments:
Line 190: in what software was the 'space syntax' calculations performed? It might be worth adding such information.
Line 351: shouldn't a legend be added to Figure 2 presented explaining the colours and ‘Rn values’ used?
Content of the statement: 'Data Availability Statement: Not Applicable.' Consider changing this statement (e.g., to some form of data access related to contacting the research Author). The current content of the article and data prevents access to the 'raw data' on which the results were obtained. It also makes it impossible to check the results obtained.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
The study explored the statistical associations of the overall topological accessibility of the city with its density, compactness, and provisions for urban facilities to understand social equity. The study is organized well and the results are clearly presented.
Besides the segment maps of the street Networks Measures and Burton’s Sample of English Cities. of the 25 cities, I suggested the author provide a map to show the location of the cities.
The academic contribution is unclear. The paper tends to be a "handbook" rather than a research paper without a solid discussion. I would suggest the authors add a discussion about the advantages of using the correlation analysis with space syntax as a tool that helps understand associations Between Street networks, urban compactness, and social equity.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
I have no further comments. All my comments have been taken into account. The article has been completed and corrected
